MTA-ELTE Theoretical Biology and Ecology Research Group, Pázmány P sétány 1/C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary.
BMC Biol. 2010 Mar 10;8:21. doi: 10.1186/1741-7007-8-21.
Replicators are the crucial entities in evolution. The notion of a replicator, however, is far less exact than the weight of its importance. Without identifying and classifying multiplying entities exactly, their dynamics cannot be determined appropriately. Therefore, it is importance to decide the nature and characteristics of any multiplying entity, in a detailed and formal way.
Replication is basically an autocatalytic process which enables us to rest on the notions of formal chemistry. This statement has major implications. Simple autocatalytic cycle intermediates are considered as non-informational replicators. A consequence of which is that any autocatalytically multiplying entity is a replicator, be it simple or overly complex (even nests). A stricter definition refers to entities which can inherit acquired changes (informational replicators). Simple autocatalytic molecules (and nests) are excluded from this group. However, in turn, any entity possessing copiable information is to be named a replicator, even multicellular organisms. In order to deal with the situation, an abstract, formal framework is presented, which allows the proper identification of various types of replicators. This sheds light on the old problem of the units and levels of selection and evolution. A hierarchical classification for the partition of the replicator-continuum is provided where specific replicators are nested within more general ones. The classification should be able to be successfully applied to known replicators and also to future candidates.
This paper redefines the concept of the replicator from a bottom-up theoretical approach. The formal definition and the abstract models presented can distinguish between among all possible replicator types, based on their quantity of variable and heritable information. This allows for the exact identification of various replicator types and their underlying dynamics. The most important claim is that replication, in general, is basically autocatalysis, with a specific defined environment and selective force. A replicator is not valid unless its working environment, and the selective force to which it is subject, is specified.
复制子是进化中的关键实体。然而，复制子的概念远不如其重要性那么精确。如果不能准确地识别和分类增殖实体，就无法适当地确定它们的动态。因此，以详细和正式的方式确定任何增殖实体的性质和特征是很重要的。
复制基本上是一个自动催化过程，使我们能够依靠形式化学的概念。这一说法具有重大意义。简单的自动催化循环中间体被认为是非信息复制子。其结果是，任何自动催化增殖的实体都是复制子，无论是简单的还是过于复杂的（甚至是巢）。一个更严格的定义是指能够继承获得的变化的实体（信息复制子）。简单的自动催化分子（和巢）被排除在这个群体之外。然而，反过来，任何具有可复制信息的实体都被命名为复制子，甚至是多细胞生物。为了处理这种情况，提出了一个抽象的、正式的框架，允许正确识别各种类型的复制子。这为古老的选择和进化的单位和层次问题提供了启示。提供了一个复制子连续体的分层分类，其中特定的复制子嵌套在更一般的复制子中。该分类应该能够成功应用于已知的复制子，也能应用于未来的候选者。
本文从自下而上的理论方法重新定义了复制子的概念。所提出的正式定义和抽象模型可以根据其可变性和可遗传性信息的数量，区分所有可能的复制子类型。这允许准确识别各种复制子类型及其潜在的动态。最重要的主张是，复制一般来说基本上是自动催化作用，具有特定的定义环境和选择力。除非指定其工作环境和它所承受的选择力，否则复制子是无效的。
